University Awards for Outstanding Contributions to Teaching and Learning (Team)

Overview

The aim of this awards scheme is to recognise and reward teams of staff who have made significant, ongoing contributions to teaching and learning support. This award is open to teams involved in both the development of existing teaching practices and/or new teaching initiatives to support student learning.

Criteria

To be eligible for an award all teams must be able to clearly articulate their teaching and learning objectives and demonstrate how their approaches effectively support student learning. Given the nature of this award, it is expected that the composition, size, and activities of teams will vary considerably across the University. Examples of teaching and learning contributions might include:

1. A team of staff who have worked together to substantially re-develop a module and an innovative way (i.e. not business as usual);
2. A team who have designed an innovative new module or new methods of assessing students;
3. A group of staff who support student learning through organising specific fieldtrips/site visits;
4. A team of staff who have developed innovative learner support materials etc.

In all cases teams must be able to demonstrate a real team approach to teaching and learning enhancement e.g. demonstrable collaboration achieving more than could have been done by a group of individuals.

Funding

All award monies will be paid into staff salaries (any money paid into salaries will be subject to tax).

In 2011 four University team teaching awards, each of £3,000, were available and it is anticipated that in 2012 the same number of awards will be made.

Application Procedure

To be considered for an award, teams of teaching staff are invited to submit an application to the Teaching Awards Panel, chaired by the Pro-Vice Chancellor for Teaching and Learning. All teams must submit a single nomination form, including a supporting statement by the Head of School or equivalent, which addresses each of the following criteria, which will be weighted equally in the review process:

• Briefly outline the teaching and learning practices/initiatives/project etc. which the team is involved in and the responsibilities of each team member
• Outline the aims and rationale for the team's approach to its teaching and learning practices/ initiatives/project
• Provide evidence to demonstrate the extent to which the team promotes and supports learning, e.g. show how the team enables specific learning outcomes to be achieved
• Describe the benefits of working as a team to achieve your specific teaching and learning objectives.

N.B. Applications must be typed (11 pt font minimum) and be no more than 3 sides of A4.

Applications must be submitted in both electronic (cdotl@reading.ac.uk) and hard copy format to CDoTL, Miller Building (West Entrance). 

Please note:

1. Awards will be paid into staff salaries (subject to tax deductions). Please note that we are no longer able to make payments into staff SDA accounts.
2. Nominees must be employees of the University at the time payments are processed.
3. Awards cannot be paid to members of teams who are not University staff and paid through payroll (although they may be included in the nomination).

University Awards for Outstanding Contributions to Teaching and Learning (Team) nomination form

Dates

Launch date - 16th January 2012

Deadline date for applications - 24th February 2012